On the other hand, putting tomatoes in the freezer is convenient. If you have a small amount of tomatoes (rather than a bushel), you can freeze a couple of containers without heating up the entire kitchen. Use thawed tomatoes in sauces, soups, casseroles, and stews.

Freezer basics

Keep your freezer below 0ºF. Check the temperature regularly with a freezer/refrigerator thermometer. Frozen tomatoes are best when used within 4-6 months, depending on quality of fruit at time of processing and how they are processed for the freezer, but have a freezer life of 8-12 months.

What to do first

Wash tomatoes individually under running water. Avoid filling a sink or bowl with water and washing tomatoes all at once, because germs accumulated in the water can be absorbed through stem scars. Use plain water. Detergents and soaps can also be absorbed into tomatoes through the stems.

Cut away stem scar (“core" the tomato).

Remove bruises and spots.

Ways to freeze tomatoes

There are three choices to make when freezing tomatoes:

Will you freeze tomatoes whole or chop them in some way?

Will you peel tomatoes or leave them unpeeled?

Will you cook tomatoes before freezing or freeze them raw?

Whole, sliced, chopped, pureed?

Freezing tomatoes whole is the fastest method of preparation. Of course, when you slice, chop, or puree tomatoes, you can fit more of them into freezer containers. What's the difference between all these methods?

Whole: tomatoes are cored but otherwise not cut

Sliced: tomatoes are cored and sliced before freezing

Chopped: tomatoes are cored, sliced, and chopped before freezing

Pureed: tomatoes are cored, sliced, and pureed in a food processor before freezing, creating a liquid

Peeled or unpeeled?

Unpeeled. By leaving skins on tomatoes you get extra nutrients and fiber. But bits of skins left on tomatoes can be tough and chewy, even after processing and freezing.

How to peel tomatoes before freezing

Dip tomatoes into boiling water for 30-60 seconds. Use a slotted spoon to retrieve them. Plunge tomatoes into ice water. Skins will slip off easily.

Raw or cooked?

Raw. Putting tomatoes in the freezer raw saves a step – and therefore some time. But keep in mind that thawed raw tomatoes will have an especially mushy texture. Avoid substituting them in recipes that call for fresh tomatoes.

Cooked. Most agree: tomatoes taste better if they’ve been cooked before freezing. Also, cooked tomatoes last longer in the freezer than those frozen raw.

What containers to use

Plastic freezer containers, plastic freezer bags, and vacuum-sealed bags are the most common choices. There are advantages and disadvantages of different containers for freezing tomatoes.